Paul Frank Darnell passed away peacefully at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Washington on September 25, 2026, at the age of 68. Paul was born on August 26,1958 in Seattle, Washington to Frank J. Darnell, Jr. and Margaret Frances O’Leary. As a child of a military family, Paul lived in many places during his childhood, including Louisiana, Germany, Texas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The family returned to Washington when his father was deployed to Vietnam, and they remained in the Puget Sound area after his father retired. Paul attended many schools, including Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, WA, Melody Hill Elementary, Madrona Jr. High, and Woodway Sr. High in Edmonds, WA. His family relocated one final time to Sumner, WA during Paul’s senior year so Paul graduated from Sumner High School in 1976. It might surprise some to know that Paul served as an altar boy and was also very active in boy scouts. He loved camping, spending time with friends and family, playing with our dog and listing to music. He started working at a young age with a paper route, mowing lawns, and was even a store Santa Clause during the holidays.

Paul was out-going, very smart, and he excelled in sports, especially football and wrestling. He lettered in both sports and took 2nd place in the state for wrestling. Paul had been awarded a wrestling scholarship and a Navy ROTC scholarship with admission to the University of Washington but had to change his plans when the health history of his parents made him ineligible for the scholarship. Paul adapted and enlisted in the Navy where he successfully completed training through the Naval Nuclear Power School. While in the Navy, Paul lived in Orlando, Fl, Chicago, IL, and San Diego, CA, as well as “somewhere in the Pacific.” After honorably serving for 6 years, Paul returned home to Sumner and attended Green River College’s Electronics program.

His favorite pastime was listening to live music and dancing, and he enjoyed supporting local bands. He worked part-time as a bouncer in a local tavern and even spent one summer as a roadie on tour with the Pointer Sisters. Paul was hired at Boeing as a wire-design technician. After a few years, he was hired by Hewlett Packard and he moved to Oregon. During his time in Oregon, he developed a love of motorcycles, and he bought his first Harley Davidson. He was involved with the local Harley Owners Groups (HOG) Chapters and supported many of their charitable events and rides. He also loved to travel and was able to take many trips for work, as well as for pleasure. He especially loved spending time at his timeshare in Mazatlan. He spent many happy years in Oregon, riding, camping in the mountains or at the beach, hosting and cooking for family members and friends, playing with his dogs, listening to music and dancing.

When HP experienced a major downturn, Paul had to pivot again, and he moved to upstate New York to take a job at a new semi-conductor factory. Although he made many new friends there and still had his boxers for company, he missed being near family and he hated the snow. After several years in New York, he applied for a position at Boeing and was offered a job as a senior maintenance technician at Auburn, where he worked until he retired. His hope had been to travel across the USA in a motorhome. He was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024. His biggest concern wasn’t for himself, but rather for his beloved dog, Sadie, and for others he would leave behind. Paul was truly a gentle giant. If you were a friend or family member and you needed help, a shoulder to cry on, a place to stay, or a dance partner—you could always count on Paul. He fought bravely for many months and hoped that he would still be able to do more traveling right up until the last few days in the hospital and most of all he would get home to be with Sadie.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Larry Darnell, youngest sister Sharon Shaffer, nephew Daniel Darnell, and many aunts and uncles. Paul is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Richard Olson, his nephews: Caleb, Robert, Jon and Matt Darnell, and Iain Leblanc; his niece, Elisabeth Olson, many cousins, and Sadie. Paul touched many hearts and will be missed and is loved by many.